His approach to dealing with people and situations is the direct path. Wedge’s earnest nature is evident just the way he talks. The 42-year-old comes across as confident, passionate and firm.

The best way to deal with things, including with his new bosses — CEO Howard Lincoln, president Chuck Armstrong and GM Jack Zduriencik?

“Communication and just being frank and open with each other is important,” Wedge said. “And there has to be a certain amount of toughness there. You can’t be afraid to have difficult conversations. I’m not a ‘yes’ man by any stretch of the imagination and neither are these three. And that’s the way it has to be.”

No, he comes across as more of an old-school sort, something of a surprise given his relative youth at 42. Maybe it’s the mustache that lends an older air, but he also brings more of a throwback approach.

He’ll demand, for instance, that his players pay attention during games. It’s a simple thing, but one that doesn’t always happen on a consistent basis over the course of a 162-game season.

Respect for the game is big in his mind and he’s looking for players with the same passion for playing that he had as a catcher who dealt with eight surgeries in eight seasons before retiring at age 29.

He said in his first radio interview on ESPN 710 Tuesday morning that “I don’t give a damn about their contracts” and that if a player was struck by lightning just as he struck out, he still struck out and there’s no excuse.

Accountability is a buzzword, along with toughness.

His idea of an Eric Wedge-type player?

“Hard-nosed, consistent, passionate and prepared,” Wedge said. “There’s not a greater compliment than another manager or team saying we love the way you guys play.”

Wedge grew up in Fort Wayne, Ind., the son of a truck driver and registered nurse. He remembers going to Wrigley Field for his first ballgame. He was a fan of Bobby Knight. He loved Notre Dame football.

He also likes what he’s seen from Seattle’s baseball environment during his many visits while managing the Cleveland Indians from 2003-09.

“I love the energy in this city and in this field,” Wedge said. “There’s something about this place. When you’re on the visiting side, there’s some energy and electricity that not everybody has.”

Some of that has waned in recent years, of course, and last season’s 101 losses didn’t help. But the Mariners hope Wedge’s hiring is a beginning in the turnaround.

“We got a guy who can lead us to where we want to go,” said Zduriencik, noting the “degree of toughness and discipline” evident just from Wedge’s first press conference.

Wedge declined to talk about any decisions on his coaching staff, other than acknowledging long-time friend Carl Willis was under consideration as his pitching coach. Willis, who worked with Wedge his entire career in Cleveland, took over those duties in Seattle for the last 49 games after the dismissal of Wakamatsu and Rick Adair last year.

Zduriencik also indicated interim manager Daren Brown would likely either have a position on the big-league club or return as the Triple-A manager in Tacoma.

As for his past run-in with Milton Bradley, Wedge said that happened seven years ago and much had changed since.

“I’m looking forward to having another opportunity to work with him,” Wedge said. “I don’t hold any grudges.”